February 14/07 1:16 am - IMBA Canada News

Posted by Editor on 02/14/07

IMBA Canada News

IMBA Canada Makes Headlines in Jasper

IMBA Canada's Mark Schmidt recently spent two days in Jasper, AB, conducting workshops as part of Parks Canada's Jasper Trails Project. The first was a multi-user workshop, focussed on sustainable trails. Schmidt presented to a number of mountain bikers, hikers, dog walkers, horseback riders, trail runners, and bird watchers with the purpose of getting all trail users on the same page regarding the current and future Jasper trails network. In a second workshop, Schmidt met with 30 members of the mountain bike community to discuss their dreams and concerns regarding the Trails Project.The workshops made front page headlines in the Jasper Booster:

Mountain bike trails in the Sea to Sky region of British Columbia generated an impressive $10.3 million CAD in visitor spending last summer, according to a study conducted by the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA). That figure jumps to $38 million CAD when the Whistler Bike Park and Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival are included in the analysis. The study also includes participation numbers and other statistics of use to mountain bike advocates on the lookout for economic success stories. A pdf of the study is available online.

Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Sets Canadian Tour for '07

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew's Canadian tour is set for 2007. Mark your calendars and join these dynamic, internationally recognized trail educators for an IMBA Trailbuilding School near you:

Planning on visiting the Vancouver Bike Expo or Toronto International Bicycle Show this year? Drop by IMBA Canada's booth to join or renew your membership, and for deals on all kinds of IMBA gear. IMBA Canada's Mark Schmidt and Lora Woolner will be on hand to talk about IMBA's plans for '07, along with IMBA Canada Representatives from each province. Hope to see you there!

A special welcome to new Canadian corporate supporters Inter-Mtn. Enterprises, and the Town of Tillsonburg, Ontario.

Located in Kelowna, BC - a short drive away from three of the province's premier ski resorts - Inter-Mtn. is considered to be the Snow Resort leader in signs, safety and service. Their Sign & Design division also carries a line of mountain bike trail signs. Check them out!

The Town of Tillsonburg is located in Southwestern Ontario, at the southern end of Oxford County, and serves as a regional centre for industry, commerce, health care, and recreation. Visit the Tourism Oxford website for all that the area has to offer, including recreational trails.

Interested in becoming a corporate member of IMBA Canada? Contact canada@imba.com.

IMBA Canada Presents at Ontario Parks Association Conference

Thanks to support from Ontario's Ministry of Health Promotion, IMBA Canada was able to present at this year's Ontario Parks Association's Annual Education Seminar, entitled "Healthy Parks, Healthy Communities". IMBA Canada Director and Trail Expert, Mark Schmidt, spoke to Ontario Parks leaders February 7, on the topic of Managing Mountain Biking, including: sustainable trail design, understanding the mountain bike experience, working with volunteers, mitigating user conflict, and managing risk. Information shared in this session will soon be available as an online resource, and will be elaborated on in IMBA's upcoming book "Managing Mountain Biking".

IMBA Canada has a mandate to present "best practices" to key stakeholders in all four regions of the province. If you would like to host a workshop on the topic, contact lora@imba.com by February 28th.

Canadian Annual Fund Raises $4,000

Thanks to more than 100 dedicated riders and generous donors, December raised more money for IMBA Canada than any month on record. It also marks nearly $4,000 in contributions to IMBA Canada's Annual Fund (and riders are still donating). With this momentum, IMBA Canada will be tackling these simple, yet ambitious, goals for 2007:

Former IMBA president, Ashley Korenblat, has extended a generous offer to help bolster IMBA's membership. Sign up for a Western Spirit cycling trip by March 31st, and they will upgrade your IMBA Canada membership to the Fat Tire Friend level, and outfit you with an IMBA jersey (a $155 value).

Western Spirit runs trips throughout the US from March to October. If you'd like to unwind on a mellow cruise, check out the Grand Staircase in central Utah. Or if you're hankering for a major challenge, test your mettle on 5 days of singletrack above 10,000 feet on the Colorado Trail. Either way, the truck carries the gear, the guides do the cooking, and the beer will be cold. Contact Western Spirit at 800-845-2453.

Ride with Sole - IMBA Canada Socks Now In!

IMBA Canada SockThe IMBA Canada cycling socks, by DeFeet, are now in stock! Show your support of IMBA Canada with these stylish new digs: Black - with IMBA Canada logo on the cuff, and speak, build, respect, ride icons on the sole. Join or renew your IMBA Canada membership at teh Supporting Level or higher to get yours today, or buy them for $10 online at the IMBA Canada Store.